Apparatus and method for realizing a web of fibrous material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for producing a web of fibrous material includes a roll having incisions with a depth of 0.01-2.00 mm, a width of 0.01-2.00 mm, and a pitch 0.01-10.00 mm, and rotated at a peripheral velocity v 1  equal to the velocity of an upstream apparatus unit; a belt stretched between transmission rollers that advances at a velocity v 2  less than v 1 , wherein v 1 /v 2  lies between 1.05 and 1.40; a presser roller rotating at a peripheral velocity v 2 , associated with a presser system acting to press the belt against the metal roll with a pressure of 1-200 kg per centimeter; and a system that feeds a sheet of pliable fibrous material between the belt and the roll, the belt having a longitudinal elongation of no more than 5%, dimensional stability along its entire length, a thickness of 1-10 cm, and a hardness 24-70° Shore.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for producinga web of fibrous material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From U.S. Pat. No. 2,624,245 a method is known for producing continuouswebs of paper extensible in a mainly longitudinal direction, i.e. in thedirection in which the web extends. This method uses a plant comprisinga heated roll having a smooth, preferably chromium-plated surface, and arubber belt of a certain thickness maintained adhering to the heatedroll along a certain portion of its surface by a series of transmissionrollers which are at least partly motor-driven. The diameter of theroller which causes the rubber belt to adhere to the commencement of theportion in contact with the heated roll (upstream transmission roller)is small compared with the diameter of said heated roll, such that attheir contact generating line the rubber belt undergoes a suddendeviation and then a sudden variation in concavity. The combined effectof this sudden concavity variation, to which the rubber belt issubjected by the upstream transmission roller, which causes said belt toadhere to the heated roll, means that when a paper web under formation,still having a high water content, is introduced between the rubber beltand the heated roll, it is subjected in the portion immediatelydownstream of the contact generating line to a longitudinal compactionlinked to the water quantity contained, to the thickness of the rubberbelt, and to the ratio of the diameter of the upstream transmissionroller to the diameter of the heated roll.

In its turn, this longitudinal compaction gives the paper web obtained alongitudinal extensibility of about 15% in practice.

However, paper obtained by this method has almost no transverseextensibility, in the sense that the value of this transverseextensibility is of the order of 4-5%, i.e. virtually the same as thatfound in any traditionally produced paper, for equal mix and refining.It should be also noted that higher values of transverse extensibilitycan be achieved only by costly refining methods at high density, usingcomplex costly plants with high energy consumption.

From WO2005/100686 a machine is known for producing paper extensiblelongitudinally and transversely which at the same time is of bettersmoothness than that obtainable by traditional methods. This knownmachine comprises a compaction station with a pair of counter-rotatingrollers, one of which is of steel, is driven at higher velocity andcomprises in its surface a series of circumferentially extendingincisions of spiral development, while the other is covered with arubber layer and is driven at lesser velocity.

When the paper web under formation is made to pass between the tworollers, the combined effect of their different rotation velocity andthe presence of the incisions on the steel roller causes longitudinalcompaction of the material forming the web and its accumulation withinthe incisions of the steel roller, and essentially results in theobtaining of a paper web of smooth surface which at the same timepossesses good longitudinal and transverse extensibility.

This known solution has proved valid from a theoretical viewpoint buthas highlighted limits and drawbacks in its practical implementation, inparticular in achieving the high production rate for which currentpapermaking machines are dimensioned (about 1000 m/min). Taking accountof the fact that at the nip between the rubber roller and the steelroller the rubber layer is subjected to local temporary compression, itis clear that a usual rubber roller of diameter 500 mm is subjected to637 compression cycles per minute, i.e. more than 10 compressions persecond. However experimental tests carried out under actual operatingconditions have shown that if the number of compressions exceeds 2 persecond, the life of the roller suffers, even with the use of complexcostly cooling systems.

Hence to reduce to this value the number of compressions of the rubberroller, rollers of a diameter of at least 2500 mm would have to be used,with considerable machine dimension problems and periodic replacement ofthe rubber layer, an operation which cannot be carried out in the paperworks, but only by specialized industries, which are usually notequipped to operate on rollers of such dimensions.

Moreover, rubber-coated rollers of these dimensions present considerabledifficulties in their replacement by others with their outer layer of arubber of different properties such as required for obtaining paper websof particular characteristics.

From GB 868391 it is also known to produce an extensible paper web bypassing the paper web under formation between a rubber roller and asteel roller made to rotate in the opposite directions at the sameperipheral velocity. The compression of the paper web on passage betweenthe two rollers results in a temporary local reduction in cross-section,so increasing its passage velocity. When at the exit from the tworollers the paper web under formation regains its originalcross-section, the consequent reduction in velocity, accompanied by itsadherence to the rubber roller, results in its longitudinal compaction.This is a technical principle totally different from that known fromWO2005/100686, which instead uses the different peripheral velocity oftwo counter-rotating rubber and steel rollers to produce longitudinalcompaction of the forming paper web and simultaneous accumulationthereof in incisions provided in the steel roller; and this differentprinciple makes it impossible to combine the teachings deriving from thetwo aforesaid documents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to obtain a web of fibrous material whichovercomes the limits and drawbacks of the state of the art and whichpresents both a high longitudinal extensibility, in particular up to20%, and also a high transverse extensibility, in particular exceeding6%, without the use of high density refining.

Another object of the invention is to obtain a web of fibrous materialwith an apparatus which does not require costly maintenance, and inparticular does not require frequent costly replacement of componentsmade of materials which undergo wear.

Another object of the invention is to obtain a web of fibrous materialformed from cellulose fibres, from vegetable fibres in general and/orfrom synthetic fibres, and in any event with characteristics which canbe modified within certain limits, according to requirements.

These and other objects which will be apparent from the ensuingdescription are attained according to the invention, by an apparatus forproducing a fibrous material web of high longitudinal and transverseextensibility, as described hereinafter.

A method for producing a fibrous material web of high longitudinal andtransverse extensibility is also described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further clarified hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows schematically an apparatus for producing a web of fibrousmaterial according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a front view of a roll thereof comprising continuouscircumferential incisions,

FIG. 3 is a front view of a roll thereof comprising continuous spiralincisions,

FIG. 4 is a front view of a roll thereof comprising discontinuouscircumferential incisions,

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged partial longitudinal section through a portionof incised roll and, in a position corresponding with the incisions, thepattern of the fibres of a portion of paper web obtained by theapparatus according to the invention, and

FIG. 6 shows schematically a variant of the apparatus for producing aweb of fibrous material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus according to the invention for producing a web of fibrousmaterial of high longitudinal and transverse extensibility, for exampleof paper material, can be inserted into an in-line plant for paperproduction, in which case it is fed with a sheet of cellulose fibre(virgin, recovered or mixed) to form the web, or can consist of aself-standing apparatus, in which case it is fed with an already formedpaper web previously subjected to wetting to a water content between 82%and 30%.

A similar apparatus and plant can also be used to produced vegetablefibre webs, non-woven fabric webs or synthetic fibre webs; in this caseit is not possible to talk of water content of the sheet of cellulosefibre mix or of the rewetted paper web, but of the pliability of thefibrous material web, and essentially of its softening temperature.

Independently therefrom, the apparatus comprises a cylindrical roll 2,of metal material, possibly covered with a layer of material presentingdifferent mechanical characteristics (for example ceramic material), andin any event comprising on its cylindrical surface a series of incisions4 extending along parallel circumferential lines or along spiral lines,and in any event extending with a pattern having a circumferentialcomponent.

FIGS. 2-4 show different arrangements of these incisions, which can beof circumferential pattern (FIG. 2), spiral (FIG. 3) or continuous ordiscontinuous (FIG. 4).

They can have a depth between 0.01 and 2 mm, preferably between 0.05 and0.5 mm, width between 0.01 and 2 mm, preferably between 0.07 and 0.9 mm,and pitch between 0.01 and 10 mm, preferably between 0.125 and 1.25 mm.Moreover, in the case of spiral incisions, the angle of inclination canbe from the minimum value allowed by the width of the incision to amaximum of 45°, preferably between 5° and 20°, with the spiral patternbeing the same along the entire axial length of the roll 2 or beopposing on the two halves of the roll.

As an alternative to the cylindrical shape, the roll 2 can have a convexshape (not shown) which has proved particularly useful for compensatingthe flexure of its shaft resulting from the forces applied to the endsthereof to exert pressure on the opposing roller, as apparenthereinafter.

The roll 2 is made to rotate at a peripheral velocity v₁ substantiallyequal to the operative velocity of the upstream station, i.e. at thevelocity with which a sheet of fibrous material 6 to be processed isfed.

The apparatus according to the invention also comprises a belt 8 ofrubber or of different elastic material stretched between motorizedrollers 10 and having a thickness between 1 cm and 10 cm, preferablybetween 2.5 cm and 5 cm, and hardness between 24° Shore and 70° Shore,preferably between 29° Shore and 50° Shore.

The rollers 10 present a degree of friction against the rubber belt 8sufficient to ensure its driving at a velocity v₂ less than theperipheral velocity v₁ of the roll 2. In particular, the ratio v₁/v₂varies between 1.05 and 1.40.

The belt 8 is substantially inextensible longitudinally (duringoperation it presents a maximum elongation of 5%) at least on that sideadhering to the rollers 10, which inextensibility can be achieved, forexample, by incorporating longitudinal steel wires into the belt orapplying an inextensible fabric to the belt.

Moreover the belt 8 must have a dimensional stability along its entirelength, to prevent possible deformations, given that on one side it isin contact with the roll 2, having a peripheral velocity v₁, while onthe other side it is made to advance at a velocity v₂<v₁, and is hencebraked longitudinally.

The belt 8 is maintained pressed against the roll 2 by a presser roller12, made preferably of steel, possibly covered with a surface layer ofsuitable mechanical characteristics. It can be idle or motorized, but inany event it must have a peripheral velocity of v₂. The pressure withwhich the roller 12 presses the belt 8 against the roll 2 is controlledby suitable mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic known means. Thispressure is between 1 kg and 200 kg per centimetre of width of the belt8, and is preferably between 20 kg and 40 kg.

The apparatus according to the invention operates in the followingmanner.

In the initial stage, i.e. before the apparatus is fed with the fibrousmaterial sheet 6, the roll 2 and the rollers 10, 12 rotate at the sameperipheral velocity v₁ with the roller 12 simply resting on the roll 2.

Under these conditions, the fibrous material sheet 6, having a watercontent between 82% and 30% in the case of cellulose or vegetable fibrein general, or at a temperature not less than the initial softeningtemperature in the case of synthetic fibres, and advancing at thevelocity v₁, is introduced between the rubber roller 8 and the roll 2;the rollers 10 and 12 are progressively raised to the velocity v₂<v₁,and the roller 12 is pressed with increasing pressure against the roll2, to squeeze the belt 8 and the sheet 6 of fibrous material adhering toit.

The combined effect of the longitudinal braking and the squeezing in thethickness direction is to cause the sheet 6 to locally fill theincisions 4 of the roll 2, and become accumulated longitudinally inbands corresponding to the incisions and with curved compaction lines14, of the type illustrated in FIG. 5.

In its turn, this longitudinal accumulation and the particulararrangement of the fibres, determine the longitudinal and transverseextensibility of the formed fibrous material web, when this reaches thefinal moisture content of the paper in the case of vegetable fibres, orits dimensional stability in the case of synthetic fibres.

The degree of both longitudinal and transverse extensibility depends onthe ratio between the velocities v₁ and v₂, on the force with which thebelt 8 is pressed against the roll 2, on the characteristics of theincisions 4 on the roll 2, on the pliability of the sheet 6 at thecommencement and termination of treatment, and on the physical andgeometrical characteristics of the rubber belt 8.

Experimental tests carried out to test the effectiveness of the methodhave enabled paper to be obtained with a degree of longitudinalextensibility of about 20% and transverse extensibility of about 15%.

If the apparatus according to the invention is inserted into a paper webproduction line, the plant also comprises, in traditional manner,stations for tensioning the rubber belt 8, for its centring, for itscooling, and for its grinding to maintain its thickness uniform.

Before the fibrous material sheet 6 is engaged between the rubber belt 8and the roll 2, it is impregnated with specific additives able toprovide particular characteristics and properties to the final webobtained.

Finally the roll 2 and/or rollers 10 and/or 12 are subjected to coolingor heating during operation, according to specific technologicalrequirements and/or to the properties which the web of fibrous materialis required to present.

From the aforegoing it is apparent that the apparatus and method forobtaining webs of fibrous material according to the invention areparticularly advantageous, in that they enable webs to be obtained withcharacteristics of high extensibility both longitudinally andtransversal by simple apparatuses of low installation, running andmaintenance costs, and with the facility for modifying the extensibilitycharacteristics of the web obtained, on the basis of specificrequirements.

In order to obtain fibrous material webs of different characteristicsand performance, the fibrous material sheet 6 can be subjected to morethan one compaction treatment of the described type, in the sense thatthe web leaving one apparatus can be inserted, after being possiblysubjected to other intermediate treatments, into another apparatus inwhich the rubber belt 8 and/or the incisions on the surface of the roll2 and/or the velocities in play and/or the pressures in play can bedifferent.

In the variant illustrated in FIG. 6, an apparatus comprising a singleroll 2 having on its surface a plurality of incisions 4 is provided withtwo rubber belts 8, 8′ made to adhere to said roll 2 along differentgenerating lines. In particular, a first rubber belt 8 is made to adhereto the roll 2, having its peripheral velocity v₁, by a first presserroller 12 which at the same time is made to advance at a velocity v₂<v₁.A second rubber belt 8′ is made to adhere to the same roll 2 by a secondpresser roller 12′ made to advance at a velocity v₃<v₂. Again in thiscase the velocity ratios v₁/v₂ and v₁/v₃ independently lie between 1.05and 1.40.

The fibrous material sheet 6, which enters along a first contactgenerating line between the first rubber belt 8 and the roll 2 at thevelocity v₁ leaves these at the velocity v₂<v₁, compacted in both thelongitudinal and traverse directions. The said sheet 6, which iswithdrawn at its exit along this first contact generating line at thevelocity v₂, is made to enter along a second contact generating linebetween the second rubber belt 8′, which advances at a velocity v₃<v₂,and the said roll 2, and is subjected to a second compaction treatment.

As there is only one roll 2 there is only a single set of incisions 4 todetermine the two compaction treatments on the fibrous material sheet 6.

However, as the two rubber belts 8, 8′ can be different, the pressureswith which they are pressed against the roll 2 can be different and thevelocities in play are different, the second treatment will give thesheet 6 characteristics and performance which are different from thoseobtained by the first treatment.

From the aforegoing it is apparent that the apparatus and method forproducing extensible paper according to the present invention are muchmore advantageous than those of the state of the art, and in particularof U.S. Pat. No. 2,624,245, WO2005/100686 and GB 868391, in that:

they enable high values of longitudinal and transverse extensibility tobe achieved, together with a high degree of paper smoothness,

they enable high production rates (of the order of 1000 m/min) to beachieved, hence enabling the apparatus to be inserted into modernpapermaking plants,

because of the use of a rubber belt instead of a rubber-coated roller,its replacement in the case of wear, besides being much less frequent,is very quick and easy and can be carried out in the actual papermakingworks, i.e. where the apparatus is actually used,

again because of the use of the belt, which comprises large portions farfrom the working zone and free on both sides, this can be subjected, ifrequested, to a series of treatments (cooling, cleaning, grinding,suction, etc.) which in the case of a rubber-coated roller would bedifficult if not impossible; in particular the cooling, often requiredbecause of the large quantity of heat which can develop duringoperation, can be carried out very simply, without having to use thecomplicated systems otherwise required inside rubber-coated rollers,

the diameter of the roller which presses the rubber belt against thesteel roll is made independent of variations in the apparatus operatingvelocity, meaning that the nip between the rubber and steel can be ofconstant width as this velocity varies, in contrast to what occurs inthe case of a rubber-coated roller, in which, as stated, the diameter ofthe rubber-coated roller must be increased as the apparatus velocityvaries,

the belt can be easily and quickly replaced on site, without having touse specialized outside industries, and lengthy apparatus shut-downs,

replacement belts kept in store take up little space and are easilyreplaced,

the width of the nip between rubber and steel can be modified dependingon the characteristics of the paper web to be produced.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for producing a web of fibrousmaterial, comprising: a roll of metal material having a lateral surfaceprovided with incisions having a circumferential component, the rollrotating at a peripheral velocity v₁ equal to a velocity of an upstreamapparatus unit, said incisions having, a depth of 0.01-2.00 mm, a widthof 0.01-2.00 mm, and a pitch 0.01-10.00 mm; at least one belt of acompressible elastic material stretched between transmission rollers andmade to advance at a velocity v₂ less than the peripheral velocity v₁ ofsaid metal roll, where v₁/v₂ lies between 1.05 and 1.40; at least onepresser roller of metal material rotating at a peripheral velocity v₂,associated with a presser system acting to press said belt against saidmetal roll with a pressure between 1 kg and 200 kg per centimeter widthof a contact band between said belt and said metal roll; and a systemfeeding a sheet of pliable fibrous material between said belt and saidmetal roll, said belt having a degree of elongability in a longitudinaldirection not exceeding 5% at least on that side intended to adhere tosaid presser roller, dimensional stability along its entire length,thickness between 1 cm and 10 cm, and hardness between 24° Shore and 70°Shore.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: twobelts of compressible elastic material, made to advance respectively atvelocities v₂ and v₃ where v₃<v₂, both less than the peripheral velocityv₁ of said metal roll, where v₁/v₂ and v₁/v₃ independently lie between1.05 and 1.40, and two presser rollers rotating with peripheralvelocities v₂ and v₃ and acting to press the respective belt againstsaid metal roll.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidmetal roll is covered with a layer of ceramic material.
 4. The apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein said incisions extend circumferentially.5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said incisions extend inspiral form.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said spiralincisions have an inclination not exceeding 45° to circumferentiallines.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said incisionsare continuous.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidincisions are discontinuous.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein said incisions have: a depth of 0.05-0.50 mm, a width of0.07-0.9 mm, and a pitch of 0.125-1.25 mm.
 10. The apparatus as claimedin claim 1, wherein said presser system acts to press said belt againstsaid metal roll with a pressure between 20 kg and 40 kg.
 11. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said belt of elasticallycompressible material has a thickness between 2.5 cm and 5.0 cm.
 12. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said belt of elasticallycompressible material has a hardness between 29° Shore and 50° Shore.13. A method for producing a web of fibrous material, comprising:feeding a sheet of pliable fibrous material between a metal roll rotatedat a peripheral velocity v₁, and having a lateral surface provided withincisions extending with a circumferential component and having a depthof 0.05-0.50 mm, a width of 0.07-0.9 mm, and a pitch of 0.125-1.25 mm,and at least one belt of elastically compressible material configured toelongate in a longitudinal direction by not more than 5% at least on aside opposite that in contact with said sheet of fibrous material, saidbelt having dimensional stability along its entire length, said beltfurther having a thickness between 1 cm and 10 cm, and hardness between24° Shore and 70° Shore; advancing said belt at a velocity less than aperipheral velocity of said metal roll, a ratio between the velocitiesof said belt and said metal roll being between 1.05 and 1.40; andmaintaining said belt pressed against said roll with a pressure between1 kg and 200 kg per each centimeter of width of a band of contactbetween said belt and said roll.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 13,wherein maintaining said belt pressed against said roll comprisesmaintaining said belt pressed against said metal roll with a pressurebetween 20 kg and 40 kg.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 13, whereinsaid belt has a hardness between 29° and 50° Shore.
 16. The method asclaimed in claim 13, wherein said belt has a thickness between 2.5 cmand 5 cm.